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Hey everyone. So I'm buying an 07 STi from a gentleman in NC next week. I am wondering what I need to do to register it in VA and about what it will cost. Information I think is pertinent to the situation are that I am enlisted, have an out of state license, and won't have title in hand. Thanks in advance for all the help you can provide.

Title shouldn't matter if you're financing through a bank/credit union.

Just go to a DMV or DMV select and you'll have to pay sales tax on the car along with registration fee (1 or 2 year, I would suggest 2 year if you plan on keeping it that long...), and license plate fee. You also need to go get the state inspection done.

I think I paid somewhere near $1000 to get my STI up and running when I bought it from a guy in WV.

Edit: Going through the paperwork on my STI purchase.
VA sales tax is 3% of the purchase price. I believe you will need some sort of bill of sale from the seller with both their and your signatures for this - this may or may not have to be notarized.
The seller must furnish the title of the vehicle either from himself or from his lending company. If you don't have this, you won't be able to get your car on the road.
When you do get the title, you need both the seller's and your names, addresses, and signatures on the title to signify sale of the vehicle.
The title fee cost me $10.
Proof of insurance is required.
Registration for 2 years cost me $79.50.

You have to make sure that the car can pass both emission and safety inspections. be cautious cause some sellers and dealers take out the bulbs on the CEL and once u buy it. after a few miles it turns on. And then you have to pay for the trouble to find out the problem.

Register is i believe $65 1 yr and 120+ i think for 2 years
then you have to insure it. or actually have the car insured already.
Some places in DMV require a BILL of Sale. Some don't and just need the title cause you need the title under your name unless its from a dealer

You have to make sure that the car can pass both emission and safety inspections. be cautious cause some sellers and dealers take out the bulbs on the CEL and once u buy it. after a few miles it turns on. And then you have to pay for the trouble to find out the problem.

Register is i believe $65 1 yr and 120+ i think for 2 years
then you have to insure it. or actually have the car insured already.
Some places in DMV require a BILL of Sale. Some don't and just need the title cause you need the title under your name unless its from a dealer

Always ask about any maintenance records. Anything that shows proof. And ask if there are any mechanical, engine, transmission, electronic problems cause you don't know what you are getting into unless. You've worked on cars physically and don't care about problems. Test drive the car is a must.

Accelerate it
Brake it
Turn the wheels left and right
see if there is any pulsation, vibration or any type of noise while driven
Turn on and off all the electronic features make sure all of them work
Check fluid level, oil, pwr steering, brake and trans oil
Check for wear and tear on the car. Any sign of abuse
Check belts, hoses any type of leaks
Tire wear if its cupping or it needs an alignment

All these things can reduce the price of the seller no ifs no buts. Cause rember you are putting money on a second hand car tht you know nothing bout

I'm saying these cause this is what I do for a living and I'd hate for people getting F'd over on something that was over priced

You have to make sure that the car can pass both emission and safety inspections. be cautious cause some sellers and dealers take out the bulbs on the CEL and once u buy it. after a few miles it turns on. And then you have to pay for the trouble to find out the problem.

Register is i believe $65 1 yr and 120+ i think for 2 years
then you have to insure it. or actually have the car insured already.
Some places in DMV require a BILL of Sale. Some don't and just need the title cause you need the title under your name unless its from a dealer

Emissions inspection is not required in Hampton, VA. That's a NOVA thing.

I also posted how much it cost me to register my car for 2 years, so idk where you're getting $120+ for 2 years.

Not in VA, sales tax is based on the assessment value of the car. Sales tax is applied to any vehicle purchased in any state other than VA in the last 3 years. Unless it has changed since May 2012 vehicles under 4,500 GWVR are 45 dollars. No emissions testing either in most of the state. NOVA does do it, not sure about Tidewater, Richmond and surrounding areas to include the rest of the state do not.

To be honest, I've read that. I just want to know what others brought who were in my position and what it cost them.

SMH. Why? That explains EVERYTHING and that information is coming straight from the department you have to deal with for this process. It is the most current information and not hearsay from people. Case in point, someone was wrong in telling you, you need emissions testing, yet that site had the correct info on who needed it and what localities.

Another thing you may need to look into is a trip permit. If the seller doesn't want you to drive the car away with the original license plate you will either need to trailer the car home or get a trip permit from the dmv so if you get pulled over for no registration/tags, everything is legal. Trip permits cost $5 on the dmv website. Print it out and tape it on a window and you're good to go.